Hey Friends,

I hope you had a restful, joyful Juneteenth. I spent my day visiting an old friend and former neighbor from my years in Long Beach, in a neighborhood off of Broadway and Cherry. We walked and talked our way to a lovely plant shop on 4th Street. I was looking for a snake plant (Sansevieria) since I'd read about how it helps purify the air in your home. With an allergy-prone son, every little bit helps. Turns out, my friend had extra at home and he gifted me one. He also showed me two baby hummingbirds still in their nest in his communal garden. How did you spend the day? 

It's back to work tomorrow, but the weekend is that much closer. Tomorrow there's also a good event (see below) you shouldn't miss if you're getting serious about making a difference in your own life that will ultimately impact your community and the greater environment. Yup, many of us are a little late, but it's time to get greener. Have questions about how to get started, or keep going? Ask in person and soak up the motivation. You'll love Caleigh, Candice, and the Parks Project folks (and their cool space!). 

Connie Alvarez
Your KCRW Insider
 
P.S. I bought a first gen Lomi because I want to compost in my small space, but also, I'm a sucker for a good Costco demo + deal. Do you have one? I haven't opened it yet. Tell me about it, pls!  

LIVE with The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast x Parks Project

This Thursday, June 20th, KCRW’s Anti-Dread Climate Podcast is teaming up with Parks Project at the Park’s Project Discovery Center for a special live AMA-style event where you can get your questions answered about adopting greener practices in your daily life. Meet hosts Caleigh Wells and Candice Dickens-Russell and hear them converse about your top-of-mind climate topics. Limited tickets are available and the purchase of this ticket supports Parks Project's Leave it Better™ mission in collaboration with KCRW as a donation to Friends of the LA River!

Empathy: The Superpower of Human Connection

How often do we consciously think about empathy and put it into practice? When the world wants to divide and dismiss the viewpoints or experiences of others, maybe we can step up and approach these situations with intentional empathy and compassion. It is, after all, an attribute that helps us connect. It could be good to check in to see where empathy is in our lives. In this episode of Life Examined, Judith Orloff, UCLA clinical psychiatrist and author of The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Your Sensitive Self, Your Relationships, and the World, says being empathetic is “a way we can save our world because empathy is the key element in reaching out to people, even if you disagree with them, even if you don't like them, it allows you to establish accord with them.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Coping With Grief and Refusing to be Ignored

In the new film Tuesday, Julia Louis-Dreyfus takes a bold departure from comedy, playing a mother named Zora who is struggling with the impending death of her terminally ill daughter, Tuesday. Press Play’s Madeleine Brand talks to Louis-Dreyfus about her movie, her podcast, and what we can learn from older women. 

MB: I've been listening to episodes of your podcast, Wiser Than Me, which I find delightful. In it, you interview women who are older than you [70 and above]. You frequently ask them about how they handle grief, and what their words of wisdom are regarding grief. I’m wondering: What you have learned from them, and what you have learned yourself going through this process?

JLD: The big takeaway … about grief and loss is that you can lose someone very close to you, but the relationship with them doesn't necessarily end. … It just shifts. And I think that that's a comforting idea. And I think it's also true. If you lose someone close to you, they are not erased from your memory. They don't just disappear. And I think that that's an interesting idea. And the movie discusses that as well.

MB: You have a pretty full life, and you have lots of acting jobs, and you're probably not hurting for the money. So why did you want to do this podcast?

JLD: It was a real, a personal curiosity that I had. I watched the Jane Fonda documentary … and I thought: My god, I had no idea about the scope and the depth of her life, I'd love to talk to her about it. And then I thought: Wait a minute, what about all the other older women? Why aren't we hearing from them? … I know in our culture, we're certainly happy to talk to old men, old wise men. … I think women become invisible as they age in our culture, which is a tremendous shame because it's an untapped resource that we could really benefit from. And so that's when I was thinking: Oh, I wish I could find a podcast that was like that. And then I thought: Oh, there isn't one, well, maybe I should do the podcast. And that's how it began. And we just put together a list of people that I thought would be interesting to talk to.

Listen to the full 18-minute interview. It's well worth the time. 

Is Zodiac Compatibility Real? with Isa Nakazawa

I don’t date women my age because I’m scared of the baggage! How real is zodiac compatibility? I'm into astrology, but my girlfriend isn’t… is this the wrong relationship for me? Isa Nakazawa, host of Stars and Stars with Isa (and noted Scorpio), offers advice for the astrologically inclined and challenges the idea that you have to be fully healed to be with someone. Plus, she shares her biggest turnoff. Read the full transcript here. 

P.S. We’re halfway through Pride month and we want to hear how it’s going! Have you run into an ex or two while celebrating? Are you boo’d up for the summer? Did you flirt with someone across the dance floor? Tell us about it! Drop a voice memo at sexlife@kcrw.org. We might feature it on the podcast and you’ll stay anonymous.

Why is the Government Messing with our Tortillas?

The government of California might be getting into the tortilla production business… kind of. A proposed California law (Assembly Bill 1830) would require masa producers to add folic acid, aka vitamin B-9, to all masa and corn masa products. The goal is to help prevent birth defects. But not all tortilla makers are thrilled about the idea, Los Angeles Times reporter Gustavo Arellano explains.

Expectant mothers require high amounts of folic acid to ward off neurological birth defects such as spina bifida. In 1998, the U.S. mandated that all enriched grains, aside from corn, include folic acid. In 2008, the Mexican government made the same requirement for all masa products although the legislation is not as heavily enforced. Since these laws went into effect, the rate of spina bifida has dropped by 35%. "Who wants to be against neonatal health?" asks Arellano, while simultaneously raising his hand. The cost comes from changing a process that has existed for thousands of years. Okay, but is Arellano is just cold-hearted? Listen to find out. Brrr!

Calling all KCRW Members!

We want to send you to RuPaul's DragCon LA as an All Star VIP! On July 19th and 20th, you'll experience early VIP entry to the LA Convention Center, priority lines to see the queens, an exclusive viewing area to view the Main Stage, lounge access, discounts, and more. The first member who replies to this email with their favorite drag queen will receive a pair of VIP tickets care of KCRW. 

Not a KCRW member? Join today so you never miss out on exclusives like this.